Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Thetford vs Fayston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Fayston has the most people working from home (26.2%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Waitsfield | Thetford | Fayston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,918 |
2,813Highest |
1,342Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.2% VT: +2.8% |
+0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
43.6±6.2Lowest about the VT average |
46.9±3.5Highest 9% above VT |
| Fayston and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.3%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Fayston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.8%±6 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
68%Highest VT: 43.8% |
66.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Thetford and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
$88,045±$16k 8% above VT |
$110,250±$28kHighest 36% above VT |
| Fayston and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
$329,500±$96kLowest 4% above VT |
$502,400±$82kHighest 59% above VT |
| Fayston and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$821 about the VT average |
$1,141±$96Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,654±$274Highest 34% above VT |
| Fayston and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,208Lowest 23% above VT |
$6,948Highest 38% above VT |
$6,689 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
49.7%±30.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.3%±27.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Thetford and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% VT: 10.1% |
8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.1% VT: 73.2% |
87%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.2%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Fayston and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #40 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Thetford School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.